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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.5Visiting Cheshire? Then take in Lyme Park, amazing gardens, a spectacular house and Unique Historyhttps://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visiting-cheshire-then-take-in-lyme-park-amazing-gardens-a-spectacular-house-and-unique-history/
https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visiting-cheshire-then-take-in-lyme-park-amazing-gardens-a-spectacular-house-and-unique-history/#respondMon, 13 Apr 2020 11:37:09 +0000https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/?p=329781Visiting Cheshire? Then take in Lyme Park, amazing gardens, a spectacular house and Unique History

For a more tranquil walk explore the elegant Rose Garden, Ravine Garden or the luxurious herbaceous borders next to the reflecting lake where a certain Mr Darcy met Miss Bennet in the BBC production of ‘Pride and Prejudice’.

Children can let off steam in Crow Wood Playscape with its giant slide, badger den and rope walks, whilst the nearby Timber yard Cafe offers delicious hot and cold snacks, soups and range of cakes.

The Lyme Missal

The Sarum Missal at Lyme is the only surviving, largely intact, book of its kind. Printed by William Caxton in Paris 1487, the book is unique in having belonged to one family for over five centuries and represents the changing religious views of the country during that period.

The book was in the Legh family’s possession from at least 1508 until the National Trust purchased it in 2008. The Missal has been on display ever since.

What is the Sarum Missal?

Handwritten copies of the Sarum Missal were commonplace in early modern England. A copy exists at Lyme.

The text of the Mass was broken up into sections, each major book opening with an illuminated letter and individual verses with a blue coloured letter.

The body of the Mass was written in different coloured inks, fonts and sizes. Priests could then use this to navigate through the sections, without which the text would lose much of its meaning.

The very First to be Bound and printed

The version on display at Lyme, however, was the first copy to be printed. It was produced in 1487 by William Caxton in conjunction with the printer Guillame Maynyal in Paris.

The Lyme Missal also shows the reaction to the Reformation in Catholic Cheshire. Henry VIII’s edict in 1538 requested the obliteration of references to the Pope, the Church of Rome and the Catholic cult of St. Thomas from all liturgical books. A lot can be guessed about the family from how they chose to censor their Missal.

Another important historical aspect of the volume is the rare survival of part of its original binding. Of the 60 Caxton books in the John Rylands Library, only two have parts of their original binding surviving. Many of these books were rebound in the 19th century.

Who was William Caxton?

William Caxton brought the printing press to England.

He was an apprentice in Cologne where he learnt his trade, setting up his first press in Bruges 1475, where he issued six books. In 1476 he returned to England and founded the country’s first printing press.

From this press he issued several liturgical books, making connections with Catholic institutions. But, when it came to printing the Missal, Caxton didn’t have the skills needed to print in different colours, fonts and sizes.

He travelled abroad to team up with Guillaume Maynyal in Paris, who perfected the two-pull, two-colour printing technique. The Sarum Missal was the first book to be printed this way.

What’s its connection to Lyme?

Sir Piers Legh V, both a knight and a priest, bought the book and most probably used it to officiate services. It then lay forgotten and dormant after the Reformation until it was rediscovered by Peter Legh XII.

He repaired the book in the 18th century only for it to disappear again. In the 1870s it was then given pride of place in Lyme’s Library until leaving with the family in 1946.

Discover a house with six centuries of history

Originally a hunting lodge and later transformed into a comfortable family home, Lyme has undergone extensive alterations since the 1400s. Notable architects were employed to transform the house into the magnificent mansion you see today.

Must see rooms in the house

Like many great houses, Lyme was built and rebuilt, embellished and enlarged throughout its ownership by the Leghs, with each generation making its mark and creating the house we see today.

The Drawing Room

Of all the rooms at Lyme, this is the best preserved of the older Elizabethan house, dating from around 1580. Medieval stained glass sits in the window, while the heavy over mantel which bear’s Elizabeth I’s coat of arms reaches almost up to the ceiling.

Dark oak panels rise from the floor making a very contrasting space to the classical proportions of the Entrance Hall it overlooks.

The Stag Parlour

The Stag Parlour is a small room that played a big part in Legh family history. Whilst updated throughout the years, some original details remain, including parts of the over mantel.

There are four 19th-century chairs that bear the monogram – ‘CR’ – of Charles I, said to be upholstered with fabric taken from the cloak worn by Charles I on the scaffold.

When James II was ousted from the throne in 1688, Peter Legh XII persistently refused to pledge his allegiance to the new monarchs, William and Mary.

He and other local land owners formed the Cheshire Club to discuss re-instating the Stuart king. Its first meeting was held in this room.

The Knight’s Bedroom

Family tradition has it that Mary Queen of Scots slept here, and that a secret passageway led from the cupboard, through the house and under the hill to the Cage. During one of the mansion’s many renovations, a skeleton was discovered lying in a cavity beneath the floorboards; the room was subsequently said to be haunted.

The Long Gallery

This space is another Elizabethan survivor, created for gentle exercise and for a display of wealth. Here at Lyme, the Long Gallery was also a domestic space. Records show that Sir Piers VII sat in one of the bays when paying his staff, and by the 17th century a billiard table stood at the top end. Later, the 2nd Lady Newton turned the room into a theatre, where the family staged performances, whilst also distributing Christmas presents to the children of the estate workers. During the Second World War, it became a nursery for evacuees.

The Library

Often a favourite for visitors, the Library today is a re-creation of how the room was decorated in the Victorian era. As restoration work to the room began in 2010, discovered beneath the modern wallpaper a shadow impression on the plaster of the original 19th-century paper as well as fragments of the crimson and gold flock were also found behind the bookcases, which enabled the restorers to create a historically accurate replacement.

Unlike many rooms, The Library is rope-free, a room where visitors are encouraged to take a seat and enjoy the room, rather than simply look at it. Inspired by this black and white photograph of 2nd Lord Newton stood by the fireplace, with a friend whose muddy feet hang over the end of the couch, showed the Library was a lived in space rather than a showroom.

The Legh family

Lyme is remarkable for having been owned by the same family, the Leghs, for just under 600 years.

Collection highlights

Lyme has a large collection ranging from treasured Mortlake tapestries to collars belonging to the family’s beloved mastiff dogs. The house is home to the finest clock collection in the National Trust as well as one of the most important printed book in the Trust’s vast collection, The Lyme Sarum Missal.

Structures were built at strategic spots around the park to draw the eye across the landscape, here’s just a brief outline of the key ones.

The Cage

An iconic view at Lyme, the original Cage was built by the warrior priest, Sir Piers V, in 1524. It was used either as a hunting lodge or a watchtower, though its name reportedly comes from its use in the 17th century as a holding prison for poachers awaiting trial. It was rebuilt in the 1730s as part of Giacomo Leoni’s works to the house.

Leoni played up its fortress-like appearance but also made it more hospitable, possibly so that it could be used as a banqueting room. Later still, the Cage became a home for estate workers

Paddock Cottage

Built from stone quarried on the estate, Paddock Cottage sits high in the south of the park. The interior is plain apart from a decorative heraldic panel, the coat of Arms of which is that of Sir Piers Legh IX.

Paddock Cottage’s position, with direct sight line to the Cage, and ornate over mantle implies building was used for ‘showing off’ to guests – possibly used for dining after the hunt.

The Lantern

The Lantern is another Lyme landmark. The top part of the sandstone tower is believed to originally have sat above the north archway of the house and was probably placed on the hill next to the woods in the 1720s. The view from the Lantern looks out over the park and the Cheshire plain. It is said that if Lord Newton could see the Lantern clearly from the Dining Room, it was good enough weather for hunting.

For more information and to discover what’s happening at Lyme click here:

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]]>https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visiting-cheshire-then-take-in-lyme-park-amazing-gardens-a-spectacular-house-and-unique-history/feed/0Visit Haddon Hall in Derbyshire-Dubbed “The Most perfect house to have survived from the Middle Ages”https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visit-haddon-hall-in-derbyshire-dubbed-the-most-perfect-house-to-have-survived-from-the-middle-ages/
https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visit-haddon-hall-in-derbyshire-dubbed-the-most-perfect-house-to-have-survived-from-the-middle-ages/#respondFri, 10 Apr 2020 10:42:49 +0000https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/?p=329778Visit Haddon Hall in Derbyshire-Dubbed “The Most perfect house to have survived from the Middle Ages”

Haddon Hall – Bakewell: Sits like a jewel in its Elizabethan terraced gardens, and overlooking the River Wye

History

Avoiding fire; warfare; family misfortune and changing fashions, little has changed over recent centuries and Haddon provides a unique view of early English life and history.

Haddon Hall, the private residence of Lord and Lady Edward Manners, is set in the Peak District in the valley of the River Wye.

With nine hundred years of history, it is one of the oldest houses in the country and moreover one of the only houses in England to have remained in one family’s ownership for its entire existence.

Haddon is unique as it remained empty for nearly two hundred years

This extraordinary period, when time stood still in the Hall, allowed it to remain unaltered during the modernising period of the Georgians and Victorians. So venturing into Haddon is like stepping back in time, since from the 1700s the family preferred to live at their main seat, Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire.

The Medieval Banqueting Hall remains furnished with its original Dais table, behind which hangs a tapestry gifted to the family by visiting Henry VIII.

Exquisite and very rare 15th century fresco seccos adorn the walls of the Medieval Chapel.

In contrast to the Tudor and Medieval Rooms below, the light and airy first floor Elizabethan rooms culminate in the spectacular 110ft Robert Smythson designed Long Gallery; reputed to be one of the most beautiful rooms in England.

The terraced Elizabethan Walled Gardens, known for their beauty and structure, cascade down to the River Wye and providing spectacular views of the ancient parkland and Peak District beyond. Recently re-designed by Chelsea Award winning garden designer, Arne Maynard, these make for an equally important part of any visit to the Hall.

Conservation and restoration

Even though Haddon is of a sturdy construction and has admirably withstood the test of time, restoration work on the Hall is an ongoing process largely made possible by income from visitors.

The most noticeable recent repairs have been to the stonework of some of the windows made necessary by the long-term effect of weather, and corrosion of the wrought iron glazing bars.

Following the restoration of three 15th Century windows in the Chapel, completed in 2004, work began on windows in the Long Gallery and Ante-Room, overlooking the upper courtyard.

This was a delicate project carried out by local stonemason, R.M. Eaton Stonemasonry, with the intricate stonework being exactly copied, using local Derbyshire sandstone, in the same perpendicular style and carefully lime mortared back into position.

The windows were carefully removed, and after assessment and taking a rubbing of each panel, each piece of glass was dismantled, gently cleaned, and then re-leaded. Some of the ancient, olive-green ‘quarries’ or diamond-shaped panels were less than a millimetre thick.

This project was completed in 2015, but restoration work then continued throughout 2017 and 2018, focussed on the masonry of the Duke’s Tower and the tower above the entrance to the Banqueting Hall.

Over a number of years we have also undertaken a programme of applying UV filter membrane to the inside of both the new windows and other windows in the building, to help protect the precious furniture and tapestries in the rooms.

However, in a building like Haddon Hall, there is always further work to be undertaken and from the autumn of 2019 and into 2020 we shall begin work on the wonderful East Chancel Window in the Chapel.

This project will progress through similar stages to the Long Gallery and Ante-Room windows, requiring the careful and delicate removal of the fine glass prior to the careful replication of the stone tracery by our stonemason.

This window, however, includes beautiful stained glass images, once vandalised during the 19th century, which will require meticulous and very specialised restoration. We are hugely excited to begin this project, made possible with the generous support of the Historic Houses Foundation

Bed & Breakfast Nationwide

Email:office@bbnationwide.co.uk

Call us: 01255 672377

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PO Box 10894, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex CO13 3AN

]]>https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visit-haddon-hall-in-derbyshire-dubbed-the-most-perfect-house-to-have-survived-from-the-middle-ages/feed/0Visit Boscobel House in Shropshire – the Famous “Hiding Place” of CharlesIIhttps://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visit-boscobel-house-in-shropshire-the-famous-hiding-place-of-charlesii/
https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visit-boscobel-house-in-shropshire-the-famous-hiding-place-of-charlesii/#respondTue, 07 Apr 2020 10:24:22 +0000https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/?p=329775Visit Boscobel House in Shropshire – the Famous “Hiding Place” of Charles II

Boscobel House and Royal Oak – Bishop’s Wood: Both became famous as hiding places of King Charles II

Boscobel House and its Royal Oak tree became famous as hiding places of King Charles II after defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. After Charles’s visit Boscobel remained a working farm, and today you can visit the lodge, farmyard, gardens and a descendant of The Royal Oak. White Ladies Priory, another of Charles’s hiding places, is a short walk away.

Here’s The History bit -THE ROYAL OAK

Following the execution of King Charles I in 1649, his eldest son made a brave though misguided attempt to regain the throne. In 1651 his hopes were crushed at Worcester in the final conflict of the Civil War. Young Charles was forced to flee for his life. Initially the future King Charles II set out to cross the River Severn into Wales, but found his way blocked by Cromwell’s patrols. He sought refuge instead at Boscobel, hiding first in a tree, which is now known as The Royal Oak.

The oak you see today is a descendant of the tree where Charles hid, and beside it, is a replacement grown from an acorn of the oak, which was planted by the Prince of Wales in 2001, on the 350th anniversary of Charles’s visit.

THE HUNTING LODGE

Built in about 1632, Boscobel House, originally a timber-framed farmhouse, was converted into a hunting lodge by John Giffard of Whiteladies. The Giffard family were Roman Catholics, at a time when the religion suffered persecution, and tradition holds that the true purpose of Boscobel was to serve as a secret place for the shelter of Catholics in times of need.

ESCAPE TO WHITE LADIES

At three o’clock in the morning of 4 September 1651, a party of 60 Royalist soldiers rode quietly up to the gates of an old converted priory, White Ladies, on the northern border of Shropshire.

It was dark, and they had passed unnoticed through 40 miles of countryside. Among them was a wanted man: the 21-year-old son of Charles I, and newly crowned King of Scotland.

A few hours earlier the Royalist army had been decisively defeated at the Battle of Worcester, where 5,000 of its troops had been killed or captured. The man who would be Charles II and some of his men had escaped, and now required urgent refuge.

DISGUISE AND RULE

At White Ladies, the king’s coat and breeches were removed and he was dressed in country clothes: green breeches, a leather doublet, a coarse hemp shirt and an old grey hat. Shears were produced and the long, dark royal locks cropped short.

The other troops left and Richard Penderel, the eldest of five brothers summoned to the house, led Charles out to a wood. Together they planned an escape – over the river Severn, into Wales and from there to France.

As soon as it was dark Charles and Richard set out on foot. They reached the outskirts of a town called Madeley, but found the Severn heavily guarded. Exhausted, hungry and soaked through from wading across a river, they were forced to turn back. This time they headed for Boscobel House, a mile from White Ladies.

A SECLUDED SPOT

Built by the Giffard family about 30 years earlier, and buried in thick woodland, Boscobel was even more remote than White Ladies. Indeed, it had been designed for privacy. Like many other houses belonging to Catholics persecuted during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, it had hiding places for Catholic priests.

The king was brought into Boscobel’s parlour by William and Joan Penderel. Charles’s wet stockings and ill-fitting shoes were set by the fire to dry and he was given bread, cheese and ‘small beer’. But Parliamentarian soldiers had already raided White Ladies, and Charles and his friends knew that not even Boscobel was safe.

THE ROYAL OAK – A King’s Hiding Place

Charles consulted with William Careless, another fugitive staying at the house. The king’s account, dictated 30 years later to Samuel Pepys, records their decision:

“he told me that it would be very dangerous either to stay in the house or go into the wood (there being a great wood hard by Boscobel) and he knew but one way how to pass all the next day and that was to get up into a great oak in a pretty plain place where we could see round about us for they would certainly search all the wood for people that had made their escape. … We got up into a great oak that had been lopped some 3 or 4 years before and so was grown out very bushy and thick not to be seen through. And there we sat all the day.”

At White Ladies the pursuing soldiers had been confident of having their man ‘within a day or two’, and as Charles and Careless sheltered in the oak, Cromwell’s troops drew close.

The soldiers left and at dusk Charles and Careless returned to the house. They ate more heartily, and Charles was left to rest for the night in a priest-hole in the attic. The next day, the Penderel brothers escorted the king secretly away.

INTO EXILE

Charles endured a further six weeks on the run. Then on 15 October 1651, he embarked from Shoreham beach on a ship bound for the Isle of Wight. The captain turned her south, and landed the king at Fécamp, from where he travelled to Rouen, and thence to Paris and the French court. It was to be nine long years until, with Cromwell dead, he could return to reclaim the throne in 1660.

Charles II is believed to have slept in this priest-hole on the night of 6 September 1651.

The Priest Hole

You can see the priest-hole where Charles spent the night of 6 September 1651 in the attic of the lodge, there is also a second priest-hole built into a chimney stack off the Squire’s Room, which was originally the escape route down to the garden.

VICTORIAN FARMYARD

Boscobel’s farmyard is a well-preserved example of a 19th-century small ‘planned farm’. Quiet and peaceful today, it would have once been a busy, working farm.

See the range of Victorian farm machinery; discover the smithy, stables, cowhouse and dairy – and say hello to the chickens which freely roam the yard.

WHITE LADIES PRIORY

Enjoy spectacular views over the fields on the two-mile round walk to the ruins of White Ladies Priory, the late 12th-century church where Charles II hid before moving to Boscobel House.

THE KNOT GARDEN

Boscobel’s garden is typical of the type which would have been at the house in the 17th-century, with rectangular parterre beds, native honeysuckle and old species of lavender, box and santolina.

Don’t miss the small mound, on top of which was a “pretty arbour” where Charles is said to have spent a few hours reading in 1651.

FAMILY FUN & GAMES

Get hands-on with history in the family room, try on armour, dress as a Roundhead or Cavalier and get creative at the art table. In the warmer months, enjoy family fun with Victorian games in the garden.

THE 1940S TEAROOM

Visit the tearoom situated in the stables, serving breakfast including full English, pancakes and smoothies and lunches including soup, sandwiches, salads and hot meals, puddings, cakes and scones. Created in a vintage 1940s theme, a break here is the perfect way to relax and enjoy a nostalgic look to back to England’s finest hour.

Open Wednesday to Sunday, 8.30am – 5pm. Pets welcome. For more information before visiting click here:

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]]>https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visit-boscobel-house-in-shropshire-the-famous-hiding-place-of-charlesii/feed/0Are You A Fan of the Arts & Crafts Movement ? then Visit Winterbournehttps://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/are-you-a-fan-of-the-arts-crafts-movement-then-visit-winterbourne/
https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/are-you-a-fan-of-the-arts-crafts-movement-then-visit-winterbourne/#respondSat, 04 Apr 2020 09:46:46 +0000https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/?p=329771Are You A Fan of the Arts & Crafts Movement ? then Visit Winterbourne

Winterbourne House and Gardens, Edgbaston, West Midlands :Seven acres of beautiful botanic gardens

A unique heritage attraction

Experience an Edwardian historic house and garden nestled in a leafy corner of Birmingham

Winterbourne is one of the best surviving examples of an Edwardian Arts and Crafts suburban villa garden in Birmingham. The garden was lovingly created by the homeowners, Margaret and John Nettlefold, using the books of Gertrude Jekyll as guides and inspiration.

History of Winterbourne

Winterbourne is a rare surviving example of an early 20th century suburban villa and garden. The house was built in 1903 for John and Margaret Nettlefold, of Guest, Keen & Nettlefold.

Nettlefold was a pioneer of town planning who carried the ideas seen in his own home to the less wealthy areas of the city.

Originally designed as a small country estate with rustic outbuildings and large gardens, Winterbourne followed the style of the Arts and Crafts movement with examples of local craftsmanship throughout the house.

Margaret Nettlefold designed the garden, inspired by the books and garden designs of Gertrude Jekyll. After a period of restoration, the garden was Grade II listed by English Heritage in 2008.

John MacDonald Nicolson was the last private owner of the house and a keen gardener. He developed many new areas, including a scree garden and small alpine features around the garden.

Nicolson died in 1944 and bequeathed the house and garden to the University. The garden became the University’s Botanic Garden and new areas for teaching and plant conservation were developed within the historic layout.

The garden today is still used by students but is also open to the public to be enjoyed by everyone.

Winterbourne is one of the best surviving examples of an Edwardian Arts and Crafts suburban villa garden in Birmingham

John Nettlefold and his wife had already lived in two homes before they commissioned J L Ball to design Winterbourne. It was to be their most beloved family home, but also the final place they would share together. When the family sold up in 1919, it was to move nearer to John’s hospital where he spent his final years.

It was designed to be ‘cutting-edge’ with all the modern conveniences of electric lighting, hot running water and a telephone line. Rooms were light and airy, with views over the garden. The Arts and Crafts inspired design employed local materials and craftspeople to provide an enduring feel of quality. The children recall happy memories of exploring the acres of garden, meadows and pasture, and plays performed in the billiard room at Christmas time.

Visitors to the house today can learn about the Nettlefold’s history and the families that came after them. Interactive exhibits bring the history of the house to life for children, and whilst little is known of how the interior would have looked during the Nettlefold’s tenure, rooms have been sympathetically recreated with beautiful William Morris print wallpapers and period furnishings to evoke the Edwardian era.

The Arts and Crafts Movement

The Arts and Crafts movement was led by English designers who wanted a return to quality handcrafted goods instead of mass-produced items. It flourished from around 1860 to 1910, and is most known for its textiles, ornaments and wallpapers with simple flower and plant designs or medieval motifs.

William Morris was a leading figure in the Arts and Crafts world, renowned for his distinctive wallpaper, textiles and tiles. You’ll see many of his designs at Winterbourne.

What makes Winterbourne an Arts and Crafts site?

John Nettlefold commissioned Joseph Lancaster Ball to design the house. Ball was a Birmingham architect, and a champion of Arts and Crafts style.

His other notable works nearby include the Eagle Insurance building on Colmore Row, and his own home on Rotton Park Road.

An unusual feature of the house is its wavy roof line, designed to make the house look older than it actually was. The Nettlefolds were keen that all the principal rooms, including the nursery, should face south-east to ensure the maximum amount of sunlight, and the best views.

Botanical gardens at their best

Today the botanical garden is Grade II listed and offers colour and interest throughout the year. The restored walled garden complete with crinkle-crankle wall, is a riot of rainbow shades from May until October. The lawns are fringed with striking colour themed borders, and beyond lies an original sandstone rock garden and a woodland walk through Gunnera leaves and Rhododendron displays. The botanical garden contains plants from around the globe with collections of plants from China, North and South America and the Alpine areas of the world.

The garden offers something for all ages, including activity trails for families and a children’s garden

The Printing Press – Interesting Exhibition

Winterbourne is home to several 19th century printing presses which are now used for workshops, demonstrations and for paperwork sold in Winterbourne’s gift shop.

On Fridays all year round, volunteers demonstrate the presses and are happy to chat to visitors about their use.

There is a strong link between Birmingham and the history of print, a relationship which is now being developed as part of the University of Birmingham’s joint initiative with Birmingham City University entitled the Centre for Printing History and Culture.

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]]>https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/are-you-a-fan-of-the-arts-crafts-movement-then-visit-winterbourne/feed/0Visiting County Durham? Then Don’t Miss Checking Out our Roman Heritage at South Shieldshttps://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visiting-county-durham-then-dont-miss-checking-out-our-roman-heritage-at-south-shields/
https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visiting-county-durham-then-dont-miss-checking-out-our-roman-heritage-at-south-shields/#respondWed, 01 Apr 2020 11:30:56 +0000https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/?p=329784Visiting County Durham? Then Don’t Miss Checking Out our Roman Heritage at South Shields

Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum, Built to guard the entrance to the river Tyne, this is a unique insight into life in Roman Britain

Standing above the entrance to the River Tyne, Arbeia South Shields’ Roman Fort guarded the main sea route to Hadrian’s Wall. It was a key garrison and military supply base to other forts along the Wall and is an important part of the history of Roman Britain.

Through the course of history Arbeia has had several guises; from the Roman Emperor’s HQ for the Scottish invasion to a busy cosmopolitan port. It’s hosted dramatic tales of murder, fire, and holds the key to ancient love stories. It was a huge supply base for the Roman army, home to 600 Roman troops and is said to be the birth place of the Northumbrian King Oswin.

It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site with the finest full-scale Roman reconstructions in the country showcasing some of the most significant finds from that time.

Step inside & back in Time

Step into the fort and immerse yourself in the world of the Romans right in the heart of South Shields. Explore inside the full-scale reconstructed Roman buildings including the West Gate, Commanding Officer’s house and a soldier’s barrack block, and see one of the finest collections of finds from Roman Britain all found in and around Arbeia.

Stories are brought to life at Arbeia through a variety of events and displays including gladiator battles, falconry displays, Roman re-enactments, storytelling and more.

Tireless Reconstruction

The imposing West Gate is one of the first things you notice walking up to Arbeia.

This iconic building has been reconstructed using research that was undertaken following excavations at Arbeia.

It stands where it originally existed during the Roman occupation of Britain.

Explore the towers to discover the history of Arbeia from prehistoric times right up to the present day. Discover the model of the Fort and the Roman armoury, and head to the top of the Gate and feel what it was like to be a soldier on duty guarding the entrance to the River Tyne.

Chillingham Castle is a 13th century, Grade 1 Star-listed stronghold in Northumberland, famed for action and battles. With its fine rooms, gardens, lakes, fountains and tea rooms, the castle has an extraordinary ownership bloodline which runs back to the 1200s.

Just twenty minutes from the seaside, this romantic and thriving castle is perfect for short breaks or family days out! Or if you’re looking for a more chilling experience, as one of the most haunted castles in England, their ‘Torture Chamber’ and evening Ghost Tours are sure to entertain.

CHILLINGHAM CASTLE – STEEPED IN HISTORY

The 12th century stronghold became the fully fortified Chillingham Castle in 1344 and the family bloodline has remained ever since. The castle was much besieged and battled, and the family all went off to those early wars in France.

Family members captured a Norman castle in 1409 and were made Earls of Tankerville, and were even made Dukes in their early warrior days. There are many mentions in Shakespeare and in Royal archives. The many commanding generals of the castle include a record eighteen Knights of the Garter.

Royal appointments were balanced out by no less than eight Executions for high treason! Family members chose different sides to support, and so Chillingham Estates survived and the loser always had ‘a friend at court’.

Chillingham occupied a strategic position during Northumberland’s bloody border feuds. Chillingham Castle was often under attack and often basked in the patronage of Royal visitors, a tradition that remains to this day.

Sir Henry Wakefield was Treasurer of England to King Edward IV and, in the last century, Sir Humphry’s father, Sir Edward Wakefield, was both Treasurer and Comptroller of the Queen’s Household.

In 1245, King Henry III came to Chillingham as did the Kings Edward I and James I. Charles I stayed here for three frantic nights shortly before he was imprisoned. Edward VIII came to hunt here, and members of today’s Royal family continue the tradition with private visits to the castle this century.

The mediaeval castle remains as it was, just with galleries that you see today added in Tudor days, for the visit of King James VI of Scotland. The King was en route to his English coronation as James I of England. The castle commander of that day was Queen Elizabeth’s godchild. He was the ‘go-between’ for the English/Scottish courts during those difficult times of the royal succession and kept fascinating diaries of those days.

In the 18th century, Capability Brown’s ideas re-landscaped the grounds, and Robert Adam’s pupil, Paterson, worked on the East wing. In 1832, King Louis Philippe of France came to stay and gave us fine urns from his Versailles Palace. Extravagant gardens and avenues were laid out for the royal visit by Sir Jeffry Wyatville, fresh from his triumphs at Windsor Castle.

Throughout the centuries the castle’s architectural detail and massive walls have remained unchanged. The medieval strength and character remains.

EXPLORE CHILLINGHAM CASTLE

This ancient and remarkable fortress is the family home of Sir Humphry Wakefield Bt. and The Hon. Lady Wakefield. Since 1246, the castle has been owned by one continuous bloodline relating back to the Earls Grey. Grand state rooms juxtapose alarming dungeons and torture chambers. There are beautiful parklands, lakes, gardens by historic designers, statues and fountains.

THE ARMOURY

A broad display of killing weapons with guns, arms, armour and even poison blow-pipes, with a collection of extraordinary and rare insects. The fine collection of mediaeval “Arquebuses” (portable-cannons) were for castle defence from the early 1500s, when big cannons were in their first effective days. In the 1800s, the castle armoury included 27 rifles by the famous maker, Purdey.

The unusual Fallow deer heads come from the Estate and today’s sporting equipment packs out the shelves.

STILL ROOM

See the painting of the haunting witch, she curses any who steal from Chillingham – proved by letters from those who thought it a joke! Interesting photographs of Everest show Sir Humphry Wakefield’s Great Uncle Arthur, who reached just 500 yards from the summit.

The Great Uncle was just dressed in tweeds, and that was thirty full years before Hillary and Tensing conquered Everest in Coronation Year 1953. Compare Sir Humphry’s own Everest ‘high altitude’ boots with the plain nailed boots of Great Uncle Arthur Wakefield.

The great sled of the explorer Norman Vaughan hangs from the ceiling, and see photographs of the great man himself with the Pope’s dog harness too!

A giant cooking pot is for feeding the Chillingham garrison and the other massive bowl is for pouring burning oil over unwelcome visitors. The remains of one ancient entrance arch is above the big window by the sled, but changes of entry to the castle vary frequently as new generations had different challenges.

DUNGEON

The castle dungeon is lit by one small arrow slit in the thick wall and the chamber is marked with the crudely-cut letters, carved by sad prisoners. A trap-door in the floor reveals the very genuine bones of a child in the vault below. Early inmates have scratched their ‘diary’ with incised lines, one for each day.

A low passage leans to the side, all fallen in. These passages ran through the thick walls that linked the great towers. They were filled in when they were seen to weaken the walls against cannon fire. Records of those held in this dungeon show it was for hiding, as well as a prison. Note the hugely thick oak door with handles on only one side, the scratched diaries on the walls and the ‘drop’ in the floor leading to deeper chambers.

MEDIEVAL COURTYARD

Below the stone flags, five feet down, is another cobbled floor from earlier days. That space is most excellent for drainage. You can see where each tower has different stone from the walls between.

The towers were built in the 12/1300s and the walls between in the late 1500s, to make rooms fit to receive the King of Scotland, on his way to the English crown.

The Grey lord of those days was Queen Elizabeth’s godchild and also the godchild of her great Chancellor, William Cecil, whose descendants became the Marquess of Salisbury and of Exeter (including Lady Wakefield’s great grandfather!). That Grey was ‘go-between’ for the English and Scottish courts.

GREAT HALL

An Elizabethan chamber, it has a typical stone flagged floor, tapestries, armour, weapons and the antlers of deer and wild cattle, just as in former times, and so has a rare and surviving quality of those courtly days.

The Great Hall was built between the south towers and over the ancient ‘Undercroft’, especially for the royal visit of James VI of Scotland. Many royals have been entertained here since then.

The walls are hung with weapons and trophies from around the world showing both the fierce nature of mankind and the origins of this castle. You can see the remains of the original giant chimney in the south wall, in the right hand end, and the two small high, protective, windows. The room’s first huge windows looked over the courtyard, as you can see from the bricks. There were no big windows on the dangerous outside walls.

STAIRS

On the way up the stairs you will see into the Artists Room, the entrance of the Pink Room, various ancient weaponry and a 300,000 year old skull of a Wild Bull, from the same family as the Wild Cattle in the Chillingham Castle Park.

You will also see the carved stone head of a Saxon Wild Bull from the park, muzzled for sacrifice to their pagan gods.

THE ROOF GARDEN LOOKOUT

From the roof you see the urns and garden layout of royal gardener, Sir Jeffry Wyatville. There is a fine view of the distant Cheviots.

EDWARD 1 ROOM

The Edward I Room is the most ancient state room in the castle. Here, the Lords of the castle were secluded up high and safe – well above the stench from the moats below.

The room is named after the visit of “Proud Edward, Hammer of the Scots” in 1298, on his way to the battle of Falkirk where he captured William Wallace (Brave Heart), who had ‘visited’ the previous year, burning women and children in a local church. King Henry III will also have stayed here in 1245 when he came by for his Scottish forays.

The gothic window overlooking the garden may even have been designed by William of Durham who designed the Coronation Throne in Westminster Abbey, which covered the famous Stone of Scone.

The Edward I Room has been restored to its 13th century format with a gallery, armour, weapons and furnishings of its time. Also on display is the castle’s “Licence to Crenellate”, or royal permission to build battlements, issued in 1344.

This license was not freely granted, as it meant the castle would be hard for royal troops to assault. The licence was drawn up by Sir Humphry Wakefield’s forebear, William de Wakefield, secretary to King Edward III. Throughout the whole country, this is the only ‘Licence to Crenellate’ actually in its castle of origin.

In a secret compartment, to the right of the north window, 125 Elizabethan documents were discovered during renovation – some relating to the Spanish Armada, others to the royal succession of James VI of Scotland. The fine gothic window was installed for the royal visit in 1298.

KING JAMES I ROOM

Named after the King’s royal visit to Chillingham in 1603, it is one of a suite of three rooms (James I, Plaque Room Library and the New Dining Room), built especially for the future king. It is famous for its Elizabethan ceiling with the gilded ribbing and very finely moulded pendants.

This room is brilliantly furnished with Sir Humphry Wakefield’s extraordinary copies of antique originals and lined with patterned silk, originally made for Chatsworth House. The paintings and tapestries are not important but relate to the Wakefield family and so, of interest to the room.

THE PLAQUE ROOM LIBRARY

The Plaque Room Library displays intriguing family memorabilia and furnishings. The fine carved stone chimney piece is surmounted by an intricate 16th century plasterwork armorial plaque from the Grey family.

There are many paintings of the Chillingham Wild Cattle and many photographs of visitors to the castle, many of which you will recognise. This room was once far more elaborate than the King James room, with a fine four-poster bed for the King to receive his close friends and family.

A number of the books relate to the Wakefield family and their exploits, including the founding of Australia and New Zealand as a part of our Empire.

The cow, high on the far wall, was a long-time friend to the Castle and a cousin of the Chillingham Wild Cattle. The left-hand portrait is The Marquess of Bath, Lady Wakefield’s great-grandfather.

The right-hand portrait is of the current owner’s cousin, Lord Wakefield, Lord Mayor of London (1915 – 1916).

THE NEW DINING ROOM

In King James I and King Charles I time, this would have been a room for the king to actually sleep and wash in. The royal latrine was in the original tower stairs and the person trusted to look after His Majesty was entitled ‘Groom of the Stool’.

The massive guns on the walls are a wonder in themselves and the pictures are of old Spanish Conquistador saints. The white lions are actual casts of a pair, formerly in the Metropolitan Museum in New York, and later sold for four million pounds in Christies Salesrooms.

THE MUSEUM

Here is a mass of this and that – royal liveries, craftsmen’s tools, and great clockworks from the Wakefield home in the Lakes, now fitted with electric drives. There are some photographs and paraphernalia of Everest, of Sir Malcolm Campbell’s Blue Bird racing car and the trophies the Wakefield family sponsored.

There is a photograph of Sir Humphry’s great uncle in the hydro plane he built when he pioneered flight from water, and a suspended model of the actual plane, with its propeller pushing rather than pulling! There is also memorabilia from when Sir Edward Wakefield was Comptroller of the Royal Household.

THE CHAPEL

Wakefield family services take place here and it is restored to the chapel it once was. At one time, it was a library, and the ghost writer, Lady Tankerville, found it hard to accept that she could not find spirits here as two “grinning skeletons” had been found below the floor boards (the bones of which are now in the ‘Ossuary’). She was not to know that they were happily at rest in their chapel! There is much to see here, including the corner tower with its intriguing defensive remains.

THE MINSTREL’S HALL

Medieval in form with the balustraded gallery above for singers, the hall is decorated typically with spears, banners and tapestries. One flag is from King George V’s royal yacht, the other banner comes from the battle of Omdurman, the last cavalry charge ever, and with Winston Churchill along too. The inscription reads “Allah Akbar” or “God is Great”.

Amongst the heads on the wall are the world record antlers for a giant prehistoric elk, which may be half a million years old! High up with the antlers, is the world smallest deer amongst the heads of large red deer, which mark out the massive size of the giant elk.

There are two huge fireplaces – one with original fire irons, and a carved over-mantel above the other. The great log fires make a romantic setting for a banquet or any gathering.

BERTHELE

This is full of prehistoric stones and you can work out how the various local tribes traded flint for clay, and how they lived out their lives.

They had superbly made axes, and poorly made ones, just as it might be today with varying craftsmanship. There are tools made with antler horn, and fine arrow heads.

Often, the tools are curiously similar to those in far off parts of the world. Check out the curious lost room – the stone coffin, or ‘Cyst’, is the finest in the country (if it is, as it appears). All these Bronze Age stones were found by Fritz Berthele, a German tank commander, who was a P.O.W and stayed on after the war to become the local forester.

TORTURE CHAMBER

All castles may have had such rooms. If you lost a family friend to the enemy, it would be natural to capture one of them to exchange or encourage talk. Sadly, in many other countries, such repression is alive in the world today.

A visit to the Torture Chamber is not for the faint hearted. It displays interesting and gruesome implements of punishment (we hope no longer used in this country), including a stretching rack, cages, a bed of nails, nailed barrel and spiked chair.

There are executioner’s blocks and the serene face of the Iron Maiden is supported by a horrible, larger-than-life size, hinged and spiked casing, to hold a live body. The thumb screws, chains, leg irons, cages, man traps and branding irons remind of a world long past.

GARDENS & GROUNDS

The Formal Gardens and Woodland Walks are all fully open to the public during the season.

The garden is a most rare survivor from 1828 and is the work of royal designer Sir Jeffry Wyatville, fresh from his royal triumphs at Windsor. The urns and statues are modern composite copies but give an atmosphere of originality. The famous herbaceous border is the longest in Northern England.

The far wall, fifteen feet thick, was a jousting “grandstand” in ancient days and it once extended around the castle grounds.

With idyllic grounds, the castle boasts commanding views of the surrounding countryside with local farmsteads and the scenic grandeur of the Cheviots. There are lakes, wildlife and important and well-recorded trees for the experts and sometimes, you see the famous herd of Wild Cattle in the distance.

Deer, red squirrels and badgers are in the woods to see if you are lucky (and keep quiet!). There are also foxes and rabbits, along with the whole panoply of bird and plant life, all undisturbed by insecticides and poisons.

THE LAKES

The lakes are fed by seven springs and five burns or streams. The surrounding willow, alder, birch trees and grasses are all historic to the region and the brown trout are famous in the locality.

Dalemain House and Gardens: Just two miles from Ullswater, these gardens are a haven of tranquillity

The History of Dalemain

Dalemain is one of the most beautiful and impressive stately houses in the North West of England. The finely dressed pink stone of its Georgian façade glows magnificently in the sunlight. Yet hidden behind the ordered geometry of its Palladian architecture is the story of its past.

A Journey Through the ages

The name Dalemain means ‘manor in the valley’, and there has been a settlement in its position since the time of the Saxons.The first recorded mention of a building on this site, is of a fortified pele tower in the reign of Henry II; one of a line of towers built to protect the country against the marauding and barbaric ‘border reiver’ Scots to the North.

In the 14th Century

In the 14th century a manor hall was added with a second tower, and during the 16th century two wings housing kitchen and living quarters were built, one on each side of the main building.

These various building works provide a glorious confusion of winding passages, quaint stairways and unexpected rooms in the house that stands today; the Fretwork Room particularly has a magnificent sixteenth-century plaster ceiling and beautiful oak panelling.

Sir Edward acted as ‘Chief Officer’ to Lady Anne Clifford until her death in 1676. As thanks, he was given various gifts from Lady Anne, including her portrait by Bracken and her Diary of 1676 both of which are on show. Sir Edward Hasell bought Dalemain from the Layton family, and it has remained in his family ever since.

Although he made minor changes to the building it was not until later when his son, Edward, built an impressive Georgian front in 1744. This enclosed a central courtyard between the new and the old parts of the house and the house became much grander with public rooms including the breath-taking Chinese Room with its original eighteenth-century, hand-painted wallpaper, riotously alive with birds, insects and flowers.

The Georgian facade is the first view of Dalemain for most visitors, an impressive sight from the road, before the courtyard and medieval structures comes into view.

Modernisation in the 1920’s

There have been no major alterations since 1744 and the interior has thus gradually developed slowly. In 1920 much of the house was modernised by Gertrude Hasell, wife of Major Hasell, who introduced electricity, central heating and redecorated many of the rooms.

The house was opened to the public in 1977 but remains very much lived in by the Hasell-McCosh family where rooms are used throughout the year. There are interesting collections of fine furniture, family portraits, ceramics, dolls’ houses, and old toys.

An Interesting Fact about Dalemain:

It is home to Mrs Mouse, Dalemain’s smallest resident. See if you can spot her house on the stairs at Dalemain, and keep an eye out for more signs of her throughout the house.

Nostalgic memories – The Agriculture & Fell Pony Museum

The Great Barn, situated in the courtyard at Dalemain, was built in the 1500s and is one of the largest and most impressive loft barns in the north of England. The roof height was raised in 1685 by order of Sir Edward Hasell.

The barn, which has a monastic feel, now houses the agricultural and fell pony museum on the upper floor. It is stuffed full of the most extraordinary range of things seldom seen nowadays but which bring back nostalgic memories of past-times.

This museum is home to an exceptional collection of agricultural implements which have only become outdated through the mechanisation of the last seventy years. It is full of various equipment, from carts and ploughs to hand tools and bric-a-brac of a bygone country life.

The Fell Pony Museum

Sylvia McCosh, mother of current owner Robert Hasell-McCosh, bred Fell Ponies including many prize winners and exported stallions to both Canada and Pakistan. The Fell Pony museum is therefore a beautiful collection that includes some of her prizes, as well as harnesses, tack and a blacksmith’s workshop.

The exhibition has been put together with the support of the Fell Pony Society, who host their Stallion Show and Fell Pony Breed Show at Dalemain every year. For more information visit: www.fellponysociety.org.uk.

With beautiful hand painted murals of the ponies and show cases full of artefacts, make sure you do not miss this worthwhile collection telling something of the Lake District traditional breed which have their origins in the hardy, black ponies of Romano Britain.

If you would like to find out more about this unique museum, the museum is free to enter for visitors to Dalemain and is a fascinating place to visit for young and old alike.

Other Interesting Snippets

Jimmy, the retired gamekeeper is famous as the ‘Bird Man of Dalemain.’ If he’s in the courtyard when you visit, not only will you be able to watch the songbirds feeding from his hands, but he might even encourage them to feed from yours!

It’s the centre of the world for Marmalade. Jane Hasell-McCosh founded the World’s Original Marmalade Awards to celebrate her love for this orange preserve 12 years ago, and since then it has spread beyond her wildest imaginings, with entries all over the world including Japan, Australia, South Korea, India and the Czech Republic.

Visitors to Dalemain’s shop can taste a selection of marmalades that have been officially named the finest in the world, as well as Dalemain’s own range, which includes a 17th century recipe from the Dalemain archives.

There is a sleeping giant in the low garden – make sure you don’t wake her up! And while you’re down there, make sure you’re not eaten by the (topiary) Dragon!

The gardens are home to the Dalemain Meconopsis Grandis, the famous Himalayan Blue Poppy. This strain is particular to Dalemain and visitors in May – July can see them in all of their glory, with cuttings available for those who simply can’t bear to leave them behind.

Eva Hasell of Dalemain ran the Canadian Caravan Mission in the 1920s, travelling from Newfoundland to Alaska to reach farmsteads inaccessible to Motor vehicles.

Visit Dalemain to see photos and first hand accounts of the extreme conditions and adventures she faced with her band of female volunteers.

There is a priest’s hiding hole, used when the house belonged to the Layton family, who were staunch Catholics. Not discovered until the 19th century, it would have been a very uncomfortable place to hide! Can you spot it?

It has been the family home of the Hasells since 1679 – eleven generations!

They have lived at Dalemain during the Glorious Revolution, the formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Napoleonic Wars, the Industrial Revolution and both World Wars. Come and visit for a unique look into British History through the eyes of one family in what is still their beloved home.

Their scones are made to a secret recipe, and are famously delicious – not least when served with award winning marmalade in our Mediaeval Hall Tearoom.

The Chinese Room is decorated with sheets of hand-painted wallpaper, brought in Tea Clippers from China in 1757. If you look closely, you can see that individual animals, birds, insects and figures have been added to create a unique pattern throughout the room. Can you spot them all?

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]]>https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visit-cumbria-dalemain-house-a-truly-great-visitor-experience/feed/0Visit Somerset and explore the “sacred Sites” of our Pagan Past & Take in a Festival as well.https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visit-somerset-and-explore-the-sacred-sites-of-our-pagan-past-take-in-a-festival-as-well/
https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visit-somerset-and-explore-the-sacred-sites-of-our-pagan-past-take-in-a-festival-as-well/#respondMon, 23 Mar 2020 17:33:10 +0000https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/?p=329522Visit Somerset and explore the “sacred Sites” of our Pagan Past & Take in a Festival as well.

The Beltane Celebrations at Glastonbury are a modern interpretation of the ancient Celtic pagan fertility rite of spring, and where better to celebrate such an event? There are different groups who organise different events around the date.

PHOTO COURTESY OF:https://www.theguardian.com/

This begins with celebrations on the night of 30th April into May 1st every year regardless of what day of the week the date falls upon: on April 30th there’s a Community Night event at the Assembly Rooms and on 1st May the sacred waters are blessed at the White Spring followed by the raising of a maypole at Bushey Combe with dancing and more music.

A separate event is the Dragon Celebrations which usually take place on a weekend near May 1st (usually the early May Bank Holiday weekend). The Dragons procession starts with street performances, singing, dancing and music at the Market Cross, then moves along the High Street with Chinese dragons, green men and an array of costumed folk.

And where better to stay than this terrific B&B, just click on the name now for further information

Situated on a very quiet country lane on the village outskirts, KEEPERS COTTAGE is a luxurious, boutique bed & breakfast in a secluded, rural location.

Converted from a former gamekeeper’s cottage each suite has its own private entrance and exudes rustic charm with features such as wood floors, exposed stone work and vaulted, oak-beamed ceilings.

The epitome of English country house comfort and style. Breakfast is served around the large kitchen table and there are plenty of great local pubs.

Singles welcome from £90.00.

Situated just 5 miles outside Glastonbury and with lovely views of the Tor!!!

We have visitors from all across the UK, and Europe more widely, and especially Germany, who have been drawn to the area because of Glastonbury and it’s “sacred sites there really is enormous interest from peoples of all walks of life.

]]>https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visit-somerset-and-explore-the-sacred-sites-of-our-pagan-past-take-in-a-festival-as-well/feed/0If you love or are fascinated by Motorbikes then visit the largest display of them in the world!!https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/if-you-love-or-are-fascinated-by-motorbikes-then-visit-the-largest-display-of-them-in-the-world/
https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/if-you-love-or-are-fascinated-by-motorbikes-then-visit-the-largest-display-of-them-in-the-world/#respondSat, 21 Mar 2020 14:57:54 +0000https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/?p=329116If you love or are fascinated by Motorbikes then visit the largest display of them in the world!!

The National Motorcycle Museum is recognised as the finest and largest British motorcycle museum in the world and originally opened its doors in October 1984 with a collection of 350 motorcycles on display.

The Museum owes its formation to the drive and ambition of one man, Mr WR (Roy) Richards construction entrepreneur and self-made millionaire, his passion started by collecting good examples of British motorcycles in the 1970s. Roy passed away in 2008 but his work continues under the guardianship of Roy’s widow Christine & son’s Simon and Nick with The Museum collection now boasting some 1000 plus machines, fully restored to the manufacturers original specifications.

Since opening, this magnificent centre has become the largest motorcycle museum in the world and attracts around 250,000 visitors a year.

One of the biggest attractions for many guests is the comprehensive cross-section of British machines, spanning the “60 Glorious Year” of motorcycle manufacturing in this country.

The museum’s aim is to preserve these pieces of history for future generations to come, as a reminder of this great nations industry, engineering prowess and work ethic.

At some point over the past 30 years many of the UKs classic bike enthusiasts will have spent an afternoon browsing through the museums halls, and many clubs and organisations having held rallies and events in the grounds.

The National Motorcycle Museum has developed into a focal point for the British Motorcycle movement & is conveniently located in the heart of the Midlands

Not only the largest collection of British Motorcycles in the World but The National Motorcycle Museum is also one of the UKs largest conferencing and events facilities

Occupying an 8-acre site in Bickenhill, Solihull, The award winning conference centre has 13 purpose built suites available, including the Wardroom, seating small parties of up to 20 guests, and the Imperial Suite which can host 1000.

The Museum also owns two local hotels, The Manor Hotel at Meriden (home of the old Triumph works) and The Windmill Village Hotel & Spa in Coventry.

Courtesy ofhttps://www.birminghammail.co.uk/

Disaster Struck in 2003

The museum was severely damaged by a fire which broke out shortly before 5pm on 16 September 2003. West Midlands Fire Service investigators concluded that a cigarette thrown away in a designated smoking area was responsible for igniting a pile of cardboard boxes containing old air-conditioning filters.

The fire spread very rapidly inside the museum’s dropped ceilings which, though conforming to safety regulations, did not contain a sprinkler system. Staff and people attending a conference helped to save more than 300 historic motorcycles but three of the five exhibition halls were completely burnt out. 120 firefighters were needed to put out the inferno which was visible for 15 miles. Many of the museum’s rarest and irreplaceable exhibits were destroyed, the loss of 380 motorcycles. The cost of the fire was estimated at over £14 million.

After fifteen months and a £20m rebuild which included installation of a £1.2m sprinkler system, the museum was reopened on 1 December 2004. 150 of the motorcycles that had been destroyed in the fire were fully restored for the re-opening. Many of the fire damaged motorcycles were restored to showroom condition.

courtesy of https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/

The museum is affiliated to the British Motorcycle Charitable Trust. The motorcycles on display represent examples of well-known makes, such as BSA, Triumph and Norton as well as less well known makers including Coventry-Eagle, Montgomery and New Imperial.

Here’s 2 really Unique Ones that you simply “must see” when you visit:

Golden Dream Brough Superior

One of the most valuable motorcycles in the world the Brough Superior Golden Dream, which is the only example of George Brough’s show model for the 1938 Olympia show.Handbuilt by Brough and Freddie Dixon, the Golden Dream has two pairs of horizontally opposed cylinders, one above the other, with two longitudinal crankshafts to give vibration free running.

The two crankshafts shafts are geared together, with one driving the rear wheel and the other driving the oil pump and magdyno. Two Brough Dream Fours were built but World War II stopped development. The second Brough Dream has a black and chrome finish and is in private ownership

Wilkinson 850

Built by the Wilkinson Sword company before the First World War the first ‘Wilkinsons’ were aimed at military use. Optional accessories included a sidecar complete with Maxim machine gun, and a steering wheel instead of handlebars. The model displayed in the museum was built in 1912 and is the top-of-the-range four-cylinder water-cooled shaft drive version. Originally air-cooled, the Wilkinson TMC engine was water-cooled from 1911 and described as a ‘Luxury Touring Motor Cycle’.

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]]>https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/if-you-love-or-are-fascinated-by-motorbikes-then-visit-the-largest-display-of-them-in-the-world/feed/0Visiting Northumberland for a mini break then stop off at Alnwick castle – Some Interesting Facts!https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visiting-northumberland-for-a-mini-break-then-stop-off-at-alnwick-castle-some-interesting-facts/
https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/visiting-northumberland-for-a-mini-break-then-stop-off-at-alnwick-castle-some-interesting-facts/#respondWed, 18 Mar 2020 16:35:52 +0000https://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/?p=329258Visiting Northumberland for a mini break then stop off at Alnwick castle, it’s magnificent!

Interesting facts about Alnwick castle

If you’ve been to Alnwick you’ll know its an impressive castle made even more famous having been used in the Harry Potter films. But did you also know how many other films and television dramas its played its part in – here’s just a quick list

Filming location

Alnwick Castle has been used as a setting in many films and television series.